§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the present extent of information available to Her Majesty's Government and to growers on the breakdown by crops of the acreage down to non-edible horticultural produce; how this information compares with the statistics available within the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Anthony Stodart:Yes, I am satisfied that the information available on the acreage of the various non-edible horticultural crops is adequate, and that it does indeed compare favourably with the statistics generally available within the EEC.
The collection of statistics is, of course, kept under regular review.
§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the extent of free trade in edible horticultural produce with third countries from the European Economic Community; and what estimate he has made of the effect of existing European Economic Community regulations on imports of East European horticultural products to the United Kingdom after entry.
§ Mr. Anthony Stodart:With a few exceptions which are to be reviewed by 1st January, 1973, Community regulations prohibit quantitative restrictions on fresh fruit and vegetables. The exceptions of interest to United Kingdom growers relate to lettuce, tomatoes and certain beans during specified periods. Many factors affect the quantity of imports of perishable produce from a 282W particular source, and a realistic assessment of the effects of applying the Community regulations for fresh fruit and vegetables is not possible. Any increase in imports from the Eastern area is likely to be limited by the cost and difficulty of transport and the incidence of the common customs tariff; there are also safeguards in the Community regulations against distortion of the market caused by imports.
§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what legislation is proposed within the European Economic Community to lower the existing trade barriers with third countries for non-edible horticultural produce; whether he expects to be consulted thereon; and what policy he will advocate.
§ Mr. Anthony Stodart:A draft regulation relating to the unification of import arrangements was submitted to the Council of Ministers in 1968, but it has not yet come to any decision. If enacted, it would have the effect of prohibiting any levy equivalent to a customs duty in addition to the common customs tariff or any quantitative or equivalent restrictions. We shall be consulted under the interim period consultation procedure if the Council intends to proceed with the draft, but I cannot anticipate what my right hon. Friend's views might then be.